Obama declares major disaster for areas hard hit by storms
President Barack Obama has declared a major disaster in Ohio and ordered federal aid for areas affected by severe storms in the state earlier this summer. Mr. Obama announced Monday that federal aid would be used to repair and replace damaged facilities in more than three dozen counties. The money will be available on a cost-sharing basis for state and local governments, and certain private nonprofit organizations. The storms hit between the end of June and early July. As many as three people were killed.  Damage has been initially estimated at $29 million.

Medina, Cloverleaf schools sign shared services agreement
Two school districts in Medina County are making a rare move in sharing some services to reduce costs.  Medina City Schools and Cloverleaf Local have signed an agreement that puts Medina treasurer James Hudson  in charge of both school’s finances. The schools have nearly 11-thosuand students combined and the districts say it’s one of the largest shared-services agreements in the state.

Blue-green algae found in Buckeye Lake State Park
State park officials have posted signs at a central Ohio beach to warn visitors about toxic blue-green algae in the water.  Buckeye Lake State Park posted the health warnings at Brooks Beach after recent water samples showed a type of toxin in the algae was at a concentration exceeding a state health standard. Health signs warning about toxic blue-green algae also were posted at four beaches in Grand Lake St. Marys in western Ohio in May.

Judge will allow sexual counseling testimony in Amish beard cutting case
Prosecutors will be able to tell jurors about alleged sexual "counseling" of Amish wives by a man charged with masterminding beard- and hair-cutting attacks on fellow Amish in eastern Ohio. A federal judge ruled Monday that he'll allow testimony about the Amish man's sexual activities with married women. Sixteen Amish defendants are charged in beard- and hair-cutting attacks and face trial next week in Cleveland. The government says alleged sexual "counseling" of wives by Samuel Mullet Sr. shows the control he had over followers at their eastern Ohio farm.

Akron General mercy killing suspect indicted
A grand jury has indicted a man in the suspected mercy killing of his wife at an Akron hospital. John Wise faces one count each of aggravated murder, murder and felonious assault in the Aug. 4 shooting of his wife in the intensive care unit of Akron General Medical Center. 66-year-old Wise is next due in court on Friday, when he is expected to enter a plea to the charges. Wise previously had been charged with murder in municipal court, but Monday's indictment from a Summit County grand jury supersedes that charge. Wise's wife Barbara reportedly had been disabled by a July 28 stroke when he shot her.

Columbus woman diagnosed with West Nile
A 25-year-old Columbus woman is the 16th diagnosed case of the West Nile virus in Ohio this summer. The Columbus Dispatch reports that the woman was hospitalized, but now she's been released and is recovering. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say one in five people who become infected with mosquito-carrying West Nile virus will develop West Nile fever. So far, Texas has been hit hardest in the U.S., reporting 20 deaths and more than 400 illnesses.

Gund grant helps bring fracking watchdog to Ohio
A grant from the George Gund Foundation will help a Pennsylvania-based fracking watchdog group expand to Ohio. The Beacon Journal reports FracTracker Alliance will use its 130-thousand dollar grant to hire a worker who will be based in the Youngstown-Warren area. The nonprofit group operates a website with information and resources for the public about the controversial oil and natural gas drilling process known as fracking.  

Woman involved in $60 million Ponzi scheme gets nine years in prison
A woman who bilked nearly 800 investors in a real estate investment scheme will serve nine years in prison. 71-year old Joanne Schneider of Lakewood pleaded guilty this week in the 60-million dollar Ponzi scheme she ran with her husband. It ends a lengthy court battle in the case. An appeals court ruled a 3-year sentence handed down in 2009 was too light. Schenider then appealed a 10-year sentence in 2010. She will get credit for the 2½ years she already has served.